4. Jimmy Buffett: Christmas Island
Jimmy Buffett was born December 25, 1946. Christmas 1996 was Jimmy’s 50th birthday, and to celebrate he decided to release his first, and only, Christmas CD. This is an unique CD. You see, Jimmy Buffett used to be capable of producing good, entertaining, clever music (just not in the last five or six years). “Christmas Island” is a very fun album. At his best, Jimmy Buffett has many different sounds, and this album has something for everyone: A reggae version of “Jingle Bells”, a very serviceable turn as a crooner on “Mele Kalikimaka”, and a rockin’ surfer version of “Up on the House Top.” He also, perhaps predictably, covers John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” which is a little over done, but all remakes of this tired song are better than the original for one reason -- no Yoko. But, the best songs on this CD are the original compositions. “Merry Christmas, Alabama” is a touching musical Christmas card to friends and places of Jimmy Buffett’s past. It’s buffett at his best, and when that happens, even his more personal music resonates with the listener. The coolest song on the CD, however, is “Ho ho ho and a bottle of rum” - a little ditty about Santa and a well deserved vacation.